For 111 of these chimps, the largest group ever to be retired, this dream is now a reality. Over the next 12 to 15 months, lab chimps from across the country will be set free and will live out their days at Chimp Haven, a sanctuary in Keithville, Louisiana.

The process has already started, and it is pure magic. Below, a few chimps see the sky and feel the grass for the first time in their lives.